When to Send Wedding Invitations for Fall 2021 Weddings – Wedding Invitations and Covid

If you’re getting married in fall 2021, it’s time to think about your wedding invitations! This is an exciting time when your big day starts to feel real–your invitation is the first glimpse both you and your guests will see of your wedding.

These details are important to you, and you want to excite your guests for a fun event after a year of social distancing. But buying wedding invitations is nerve-wracking with Covid restrictions still so in flux. I get it. It’s tempting to wait until the last minute in hopes that you won’t have to reschedule or uninvite guests.

But waiting may be the worst option in the long run. Your guests still need time to plan or make travel arrangements (especially if you skipped save the dates). Also, supply lines are still affected by the pandemic, which has lengthened production time. In this blog, we’ll discuss timelines for fall 2021 wedding invitations and options to help you navigate the changing world.

When to send wedding invitations

First, let’s figure out when you need your invitations delivered to your doorstep, so grab a calendar and a pen. Your wedding invitations should be in the mailbox no later than 6-8 weeks before your wedding date. If you plan to stuff and mail the wedding invitations yourself, then you should allow 1-2 weeks to complete that. So circle a date 9-10 weeks before your wedding as your in-hands date.

When to order wedding invitations

This answer depends on if you plan to commission completely custom invitations or purchase semi-custom invitations.

Custom invitations take weeks, even months, to complete depending on the complexity of the design. On average, about 6 six weeks of design time is required to deliver a final proof. This allows for several rounds of in-depth revisions and time for you to review the final design and guest addresses.

Likewise, the production time for custom invitations will vary based on the complexity. If you’ve opted for a print process like letterpress or foil stamping, then you should allow 4-5 weeks of production time, as custom dyes must be made for each of your invitation cards. If you’re crunched for time, digital or thermography may be a better option, which will likely take 2-3 weeks.

As mentioned earlier, the pandemic has affected many supply lines. Certain high-end papers and handmade materials, especially if sourced from overseas, have experienced heavy delays. Because of this, you should be open to alternatives if a particular paper stock is on backorder. Your stationer will be able to offer a good solution.

Overall, if your design contains high-end materials or print processes, then a safe bet is to allow 5 weeks of production time. If you’re keeping things simple, then 3 weeks may be a good estimation. 

Now for semi-custom invitations, which may be a safer bet if time is short. Because you’ll begin with a design template and pre-determined materials, your stationer should be able to advise you upfront on a more concrete timeline. Design time typically takes 1-2 weeks so long as you don’t require significant revisions to the template. Production may vary a little more depending on the invitation set. As mentioned before, letterpress will take longer than digital. But since the production materials have already been sourced and streamlined, your stationer should have a good idea of the timeline and can advise you if a particular option is on backorder.

When to send wedding invitations without save the dates

While it is always recommended to send save the dates so that guests have ample time to plan, it’s understandable if you opted out due to uncertainty. If you skipped save the dates, then you should send your wedding invitations out a little sooner. Aim for mailing invitations 3-4 months before the big day if possible. In this case, semi-custom invitations will be your best bet. Just beware that guests may forget to RSVP or even change their RSVP answer when sending invitations this early.

Final tips for planning wedding invitations and Covid

First, something positive. Recently, some couples have actually ADDED people to their guest list rather than subtracted. As things continue to shift and open up, you may find yourself able to invite more people than you originally planned. Given this, stationers have started recommending buying more extra invites than usual. Consider purchasing an extra 10-15 sets just in case!

Include an insert card with your wedding website. If you need to update guests about regulations or safety rules, do so through your website so you don’t have to resend mail. On the insert card, phrase a request such as, “Please visit our wedding website for updates and news in the weeks to come.” This way, you’re not exactly mentioning Covid on your wedding invitations, which will hopefully be a treasured keepsake. But you’re still letting your guests know that there could be changes.

While I’m a huge fan of the traditional RSVP card, you may consider instead requiring your guests to RSVP through your website. This gives guests another reason to visit and see further reminders to check for updates. If you go with this route, be considerate of elderly guests on your list. You may need to call them to get their RSVP or inform them about changes.

And remember, your guests should expect updates. They understand the uncertainty and will sympathize if things have to change. The people you invite to your wedding, especially an intimate wedding, are people who love you. They will want what’s best for you and your fiancé.

Navigating wedding planning during Covid is beyond challenging, but a stationer will take a lot of stress out of your invitations. If you have questions or concerns about your fall wedding invitations, I’d love to hear from you! We still have a few spots open for both custom and semi-custom designs for the fall. Let me know how I can help!